77.

He cannot walk up the stairs quick enough, the guards making sure the doors are opened before he arrives at the top. Connie’s throat hurts as he follows him into the castle, where the tension only rises.

Arlon points at the first guard he sees. “Did they find him?”

“He was with the alchemist, your majesty.” The guard bows as deep as they can. One wrong move might just set the king aflame.

“Do you think he confessed to Chay?”

“Stop talking.” Arlon doesn’t want to hear a single voice. None other than Elai’s. because no matter how heavy the betrayal weighs; the boy has been his lover for the past month.

He needs to hear the words come out of his mouth do the people want him to execute him.

They arrive at the cell at last, and the prince can’t get up quick enough when he sees his lover’s face through the bars.

“Arlon! Arlon you need to tell them to get me out of here!” Elai’s face is redder than usual and his eyes are puffy; it is obvious that the boy has been crying.

Arlon presses his forehead against the bars and lets out a deep sigh.

“I didn’t do anything!” He sounds genuinely upset, but who wouldn’t be when they’re caught? He’s probably worried about not being able to finish the job. Now he’s in here, with the possibility of an execution.

“We were having such a good time, prince Elai.” Arlon can’t open his eyes to look at his lover. Once was enough. Now he just enjoys the darkness of his closed eyelids.

“Connie! Please!” the prince pulls on the bars as hard as he can. Again, again, again. His teeth are gritted and whines escape from between the gaps.

“Why would I kill my father if I still belong there?!”

“Well, you haven’t killed him, have you?” Connie huffs.

The anger inside of Elai’s stomach grows stronger the more his eyes shift from one friend to another. Arlon still won’t look back at him. He takes Elai’s argument a lot differently than his friend. The boy was so excited when Arlon asked him to kill the king of Lyle. He seemed completely at ease with it, the idea brought such a big smile on his face. he can’t be that good of an actor. It is impossible.

“Open the cell.” Arlon’s head shoots up to look at the guard, who quickly begins struggling with the big hoop of keys.

“Woah- woah, hey. What’s this?” Connie pushes Arlon back from the cell and looks him dead in the eye. “There is no way you actually believe that brat.” Maybe if Connie would stop acting out of anger, he’d see the good in some people.

“He’s going to kill his father.” Arlon replies calmly, eyes slowly sliding from Connie’s face to the cell door opening up. Elai stumbles out of it with hate in his eyes, hands reaching out for Connie’s head. The man is quick to protect himself with his resistance, Elai’s fingers now only sliding down into his short hairs.

“I was starting to like you!” Elai isn’t strong enough to pull the warrior backwards, but he does manage to make him stumble. A soft chuckle leaves Connie’s mouth. A chuckle filled with disbelief that his best friend let the culprit out without second thought.

“And you..” Elai pushes Connie aside and points his slender finger at Arlon.

“You jumped sides just like that, hm? Just because your big commander tells you to do so?” Elai squints his eyes and tries to ignore his heart skipping a beat. He still feels so shy and unsure around the king. A mistake like this can’t change that.

“You don’t have to lie, Elai. We’ve heard enough.”

“Who convinced you of something like this?! I haven’t left your side! Ever!”

“You visited your aunt.”

The reason makes Elai huff and press his tongue against his inner cheek.

“And I actually did! You found me there! I couldn’t even have gone near the fucking border! I am an exile, Arlon! Going back there is like suicide!”

“And it is exactly what you are going to do right now.” Arlon has had enough of the loud talk, his hand wrapping itself around Elai’s wrist. The boy doesn’t resist and throws a glare over his shoulder, just to piss Connie off. The commander follows them without permission, pace quick and breath steady.

If Arlon takes this as the last test, he has officially lost his fucking mind.

“Elai might as well kill his father and still be part of the family, Lo. Maybe this will get him on his fucking precious throne!” Connie too pessimistic, and it makes both Elai and Arlon roll their eyes.

Frustration crosses Elai’s face. “I have no desire for that throne!”

“I do not care, Connie. I want that king gone and forgotten. I hope it wreaks havoc. I hope it devastates that fucking place.” It is the first time Elai hears such talk from Arlon’s mouth. the king used to be quite nice about his great enemy, not one word too foul. Maybe it was out of respect, which he might’ve lost just now. even though Elai dares to swear on his mother’s grave he was not part of this attack.

“They will destroy us.”

“Let them.”